Rotary engine.



A. STiEB.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1914.

h fimm 1119111811 1 11.13, 1915.

j A Hams-MEET 1. fw l 2% I I l oe 1% m y 8 7 4 K x 3% 2/ Ag w r P1 1 .21 M ,w 35 fl A 1 1 mm emmw THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTC-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. 1

A. STIEB.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION men Nov. 16. 1914.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

3 SHEETSr-SHBET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CD., FHOTO-LIIHO A. STIEB.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, m4.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

ARTHUR STIEB, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed November 16, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR STIEB, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of East St. Louis, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

ilhis invention relates to rotary engines and has for its object to provide an engine of the character described having a rotatable piston bearing a plurality of rotatable propeller-blades, each blade presenting in and withdrawing from the path of the pressure-fluid a surface against which said fluid may act as said blade is rotated with the revolutions of said rotatable piston.

Further, the present invention provides a plurality of spurs and pinions for rotating said blades, and, also, mechanism for operating said spurs and pinions as said rotatable piston is revolved by the action of the pressure-fluid against the portions of said blades in the path thereof.

Further, the present invention resides in the construction, arrangement of parts, and the many novel features of the mechanism hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a vertical view of one end of the engine (for convenience called the front end), partly in elevation and partly in section, a part of the front endcover plate having been broken away over the sectional part of the view better to show sections of the rotatable propeller-blades and other parts in association with the rotatable piston; Fig. 2 is a view in cross section on a line substantially dividin the engine in half vertically across the thickness of the piston and the width of the cylinder; Fig. is a plan view looking at the side of a fragment of the piston removed from the cylinder and shows, particularly, a recess or pit in the piston for the accommodation therein of a rotatable propeller blade; Fig. d is a sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line transverse the thickness of the piston and the length of the cylinder show- Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Serial. No. 872,306.

ing the position of a rotatable propellerblade when at A, Fig. 1, immediately underneath the barrier-block between a pressurefluid inlet and outlet; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line transverse the thickness of the piston and the length of the cylinder showing the position of a rotatable propeller-blade when at B, Fig. 1, 45 degrees to the right of the blade shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line transverse the thickness of the piston and the length of the cylinder showing the position of a rotatable propeller-blade when at C, Fig. l, 90 degrees to the right of the blade shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line transverse the thickness of the piston and the length of the cylinder showing the position of a rotatable propeller-blade when at D, Fig. 1, 135 degrees to the right of the blade shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 is a plan elevation on a reduced scale from that of Fig. 1 of the rear end-plate of the cylinder with the stationary circular ratchet attached to said plate and the multiple gears rotatably engageable in said ratchet, the piston bearing said gears having been removed from the .cylinder, the piston-shaft, gearshafts, and the cylinder rim being shown in cross-section.

A casing 1 forming the piston cylinder may be constructed of a circular rim 2, a front plate 3, and a rear plate 1, each of said plates being secured to said rim by any suitable means, such, for instance, as by means of screw-threaded bolts 5, said rim, front plate, and rear plate inclosing a hollow space substantially cylindrical in general outline. Casing 1 may be supported on bases 6 bearing legs 7 preferably depending from said rim.

Shaft 8 extending substantially centrally through the hollow portion of easing 1 may protrude outwardly beyond either plate 1 or plate 3 or beyond both of said plates for any desirable distance, said shaft being revolubly mounted in said casing in a pair of bearings 9, one of said bearings 9 being centrally located in front plate 8 opposite its companion bearing 9 in rear plate 4:.

A rotatable piston 10 is mounted on shaft 8 within casing 1, said piston being rigidly secured to said shaft by any suitable means,

such, for instance, as by means of a key 11, so that said piston will revolve as said shaft revolves. The inner wall of rim 2 bears an annular arched groove 12, said groove presenting a concave face to the adjacent peripheral face of said piston, said concavity being in the shape of a segment of a circle in cross-sectional view, and the space 13 formed between said face of the piston and said concave face providing a channel for the passage of pressure-fluid and for other purposes hereinafter described, said channel communicating with pressure-fluid inlets 14 and pressure-fluid outlets 15, there being, preferably, one such inlet and one such outletat the top of easing 1 in rim 2, and another such inlet and another such outlet at the bottom of said casing in rim 2, upper inlet 14.- and upper outlet 15 being slightly to the right and left, respectively, of the center of shaft 8, and lower inlet 14 and lower outlet 15 being slightly to the left and right, respectively, of the center of shaft 8, as best seen in Fig. 1.

circular stationary rack 16 is secured to themnerwall0frearplatelhyanysuitable means, such, for instance, as by means of bolts 17 passing through the body of said rack and said rear plate 4., the center of the circumference of said rack being at the center of shaft 8, said rack being provided with an opening adapted to "permit shaft 8 to pass therethrough, said opening being preferably suiliciently large to permit the inward extension of the hub of bearing 9 in rear plate l to pass therethrough, also, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9, said inward eX- tension of said hub being preferably of a length to spacepiston 10 away from rear plate 41 to provide operating space for parts associated with rack 16. A plurality of pinions 18 are provided, each pinion 18 being rigidly secured to an end of one of a similar number of arbors 19 in any suitable manner, each arbor being revolubly mounted in an appropriate bearing 20 in piston 10, bearings 20 being appropriately spaced apart, the other end of each arbor protruding into a cavity 2 in said piston and bearing beveled gear 22, each beveled gear 22 being rigidly secured to its arbor 19 in any suitable manner. The teeth of each pinion 18 are adapted to engage the teeth of rack 16 as said pinions revolve with the revolutions of their respective arbors in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter more particularly described. The teeth of each beveled gear 22 are adapted to engage'the teeth of an adjacent beveled gear 23, there being as many beveled gears 23 as there are beveled gears 22, each beveled gear 23 being rigidly mounted at one end of a shaft 241, each shaft 24 being rotatably supported in a pair of bearings 25, one of each pair of bearings 25 being in' an opposite wall of recess or pit 26 in piston 10, each of said pits 26 being sunk radially the piston 10, the mouth of each pit being at the peripheral face of said piston. The axis of rotation of each shaft 24. and its gear 23 is substantially at a rightangle to the axis of rotation of its corresponding gear 22 and its arbor 19. Cavities 21 are of such size and shape as to permit a shaft 24 with a gear thereon to be inserted therethrough and to permit a shaft 2t conveniently to be inserted therethrough into its bearings 25, a pair of said beveled gears 22 and 23 operating in each opening 21, each cavity 21 having an opening at the front of piston 10 adjacent front plate 3, but not extending upwardly through the peripheral face of said piston.

A mutilated disk 27 is rigidly mounted on the portion of each shaft 24 in pit 26, said disk being rigidly secured to said portion of said shaft by any suitable means, such, for instance, as by means of being keyed thereto as illustrated in the drawings, so that said mutilated disk will revolve as said shaft 21 revolves. Each mutilated dish is lllOlllltttl()llltSSiltllt:lStlJOVt(itttl'lhtd.ill

a I pit 26 formed in the peripheral face of piston 10, each pit 26 being adapted to receive a mutilated disk 27, so that when same is in the position shown in Fig. 5, no part of said mutilated disk will protrude outwardly beyond the peripheral face of piston 16. The side plan views of mutilated disks 27 shown in Figs. 5 to S inclusive, illustrate the manner in which the disks are mutilated for the purposes of this invention, a portion of each disk being cut away on two diverging lines beginning at a point on a radius of the circumference of said disk between its center and said circumference, and each line running on an equally diverging downward slant from said point to opposite sides of said circumference, the mutilation being of such a character that when a mutilated disk 27 is revolved to the position shown in Fig. 5 and at A Fig. 1. said mutilated disk will be entirely inclosed within its pit 26 and no portion thereof will protrude above the peripheral face of piston 10 into channel 13 between said peripheral face and the concave face of annular arched groove 12 on the inner wall of rim 2, and, that when said mutilated disk is revolved to the position shown in Fig. 7 and at C in Fig. 1, an entire portion thereof protrudes beyond said peripheral face of said piston and into said channel, substantially closing said channel with a wall transversely thereacross, said channel being so formed as to permit of being substantially closed off in the manner described when a continuous circular portion of said disk is extended therein from side to side as shown in said Fig. 7 and at C in said Fig. 1. Two intermediate positions, between those hercinabove described, are

illustrated in Figs. 6 and8 and at B and C in Fig. 1, wherein channel 13 is partially obstructed by the protrusion of said mutilated disk therein. Each mutilated disk 27 may be provided with an enlarged portion 28 at its edge, as, perhaps, best seen at A and C, Fig. 1, and in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, said enlarged portion being for the purpose of providing a thickened edge to accommodate a packing 29 of any suitable kind, sprung or otherwise placed upon the face of said thickened edge and held in place in an appropriate groove therefor in any suitable manner as shown in the cross-sectional portion of the view in Fig. 1, to provide a leak-tight joint with the concave or arched face of annular groove 12 when a mutilated disk 27 is in the position shown in Fig. 7 and at C, Fig. 1.

Pits 26 in piston 10 may be shaped appropriatelyto the shape of a mutilated disk 27, as best seen, perhaps, in Figs. 3 and 4:, and may have an enlarged portion corresponding to the enlarged portion, just described, of said mutilated disk.

A. pair of pressure-fluid barrier-blocks 29 may be provided, said blocks being adapted to block channel 13 and divide same into equal non-communicating parts, each block being borne by the inner wall of rim 2 between an inlet 14 and an outlet 15, and being yieldingly held in place by springs 30 borne in appropriate openings therefor in the in nor wall of said rim, said springs being adapted constantly to exert pressure against said block, thus tending to force same yieldingly against the adjacent portion of the peripheral face ofpiston 10 as said piston revolves to make a leak-tight joint therewith against the passage of pressure-fluid.

lln the engine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, pinions 18 and rack 16 are so constructed as to relative sizes and as to pitch of teeth, that when a pinion 18 travels completely around the circumference of rack 16 while piston 10 makes one complete revolution, each pinion 18 will make four complete revolutions on its aXis causing each arbor 19 and each beveled gear 22, likewise, to make four revolutions, and, the construction of each beveled gear 22 and an associated beveled gear 23 is such, that while a beveled gear 22 makes four revolutions on its axis, a beveled gear 23 makes two revolutions on its axis, causing shaft 241- and mutilated disk 26, likewise, to make two revolutions, so that when piston 10 makes one complete revolution on its axis, pinions 18, arbors 19, and beveled gears 22 each make four complete revolutions on their respective axes, and beveled gears 23, shafts 2+1, and mutilated disks 27 each make two complete revolutions on their respective axes.

ln operating the form of engine illustrated in the accompanying drawings (assuming the positions of rotatable piston 10 and mutilated disks 27 to be that shown in Fig. 1, which for convenience will be termed the initial position) any suitable pressurefluid may be admitted into channel 13 of easing 1 through upper inlet 1% and through lower inlet 1-1 (said inlets having been connected with a source of supply of said pressure-fluid in the usual manner) whereupon said pressure-fluid entering said channel through upper inlet lat will be prevented from flowing to the left of upper barrierblock 29 (said block being constructed as hereinabove described effectually to close said channel against the passage of said pressure-fluid) and will flow toward the right of said block striking the partially protruding mutilated disk 27 at'B, Fig. 1, and the fully protruding mutilated disk 27 at C, Fig. 1, thus causing rotatable piston 10 to rotate with shaft 8 to the right in the direction of the long arrow 31, Fig. 1. As piston 10 thus rotates, each pinion 18 with its arbor 19 will rotate to the right in the direction of the small arrows 32, Fig. 9, while the general movement of said pinions around circular rack 16 will be in the direction of large arrow 33, Fig. 9; simultaneously, each beveled gear 22 will rotate in the direction of the small arrows, Fig. 1, engaging the teeth of a companion beveled gear 23, causing the latter to rotate its shaft 24:, thus rotating each mutilated disk 27 in the direction of the arrows shown in Figs. 5 to S, inclusive, it being understood that each mutilated disk 27 rotates in the plane of a radius of said piston and at a right-angle to the plane of rotation of piston 10. In said initial positions of said piston and said mutilated disks, a mutilated disk 27 will be at A, Fig. 1 (a side view of which is shown in Fig. 5), wherein the ridge of the mutilated portion of said mutilated disk will be immediately and centrally beneath and preferably touching the adjacent face of a block 29, and, as piston 10 rotates to the right, an inclined edge of said mutilated disk advances upwardly toward the adjacent face of said block, the inclination from said ridge being sufficiently great to permit said mutilated disk to revolve with the revolution of its shaft 24., while said mutilated disk is passing under said block. Upon passing to the right of said block, from the position A,

Fig. 1, said mutilated disk will protrude slightly into channel 13 and as it advances farther to the right, a greater portion of said mutilated. disk will protrude into said channel, so that, when, for instance the position B, Fig. 1, is reached, a portion of said mutilated disk as best seen in Fig. 6 will have protruded into said channel, and when the position C, Fig. 1, is reached, the entire channel 13 will be walled off by a protruding portion of said mutilated disk as shown in Fig. 7. As said mutilated disk passes onward to the right beyond said position C, the mutilated portion of said mutilated. disk begins to move toward said channel and at position D, Fig. 1, the passage of the channel 13 will be partially unobstructed by said mutilated disk to the extent shown in Fig. 8, and, when said mutilated disk has advanced to the right to position E, Fig. 1, the mutilated portion of said mutilated disk will be adjacent the face of a block 29 with the ridge of said mutilated portion in the position with reference to said face of said block, similar to that described'in describing position A, Fig. 1, of which a side view is shown in Fig. 5. In moving from position A, to position E (Fig. 1) a mutilated disk will make one complete revolution on its axis with one complete revolution of its shaft 24 and one complete revolution of beveled gear 23, and piston 10 will have made one half revolution on its axis with one half revolution of its shaft 8. As said, mutilated disk moves onward in the direction of large arrow 31, Fig. 1, as said piston continues to revolve, said mutilated disk will continue to revolve and will partially obstruct, entirely obstruct, and again partially and entirely withdraw from obstructing, said channel 13 until it has completed a second complete revolution on its aXis while piston 10 is completing the other half revolution on its axis, thus bringing said mutilated disk back to initial position A, Fig. 1, piston 10' being driven forward on the second half revolution just described by means of pressurefluid entering channel 13 through lower inlet l-il to the left of lower barrier-block 29. The pressure-fluid entering channel 13 through upper inlet 14: flows to the right of upper block 29 and exhausts through outlet 15 to the right of lower block 29, and pressurefluid entering channel 15 through lower inlet 14 flows to the left of lower block 29 and exhausts through upper outlet 15 to the left of upper block 29. It is, of course, understood that more than two barrier-blocks 29 may, if desired, be provided, in which case, also, there will be as many fluid-pressure inlets 14 and outlets 15 as there are barrier-blocked channel-parts, there being one inlet 14 and one outlet 15 for each channel-part.

An advantage of the engine embodying this invention is that it provides a rotary engine having all its operating parts inclosed in one casing with a pressure-fluid channel divided into two non-communicating parts, each noncommunicating part of said channel having a separate pressureliuid inlet and outlet whereby the pressurefluid entering one inlet acts upon rotatable mutilated disk propeller-blades during substantially one half revolution of the rotatable piston and the pressure-fluid entering the other inlet acts upon rotatable mutilated disk propeller-blades during substantially the other half revolution of said piston.

Many changes in construction and an rangement of parts may be made without departing from the nature and spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a rotary engine, a casing adapted to inclose said engine, a rotatable piston in said casing, there being a pressure-fluid channel within said casing adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall facing said peripheral face, barrier-blocks depending from said wall, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel across its length into equal noncommunicating parts, each of said parts of said channel having a pressure-fluid inlet and a pressure-fluid outlet communicating therewith from without said casing, and a plurality of rotatable pressure-surface members peripherally borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, and mechanism adapted to rotate said pressure members.

2. In a rotary engine, a casing adapted to inclose said engine, a rotatable piston in said casing, there being a pressure-fluid channel within said casing adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said chan nel having a concave wall facing said peripheral face, barrier-blocks depending from said wall, said blocks being adapted. to divide said channel across its length into equal non-communicating parts, each of said channel-parts having a pressure-fluid inlet and a pressure-fluid outlet adjacent opposite ends adapted to establish communication from without said casing with said channelparts, and a plurality of rotatable pressuresurface members peripherally borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, and mechanism adapted to rotate said pressure members.

3. In a rotary engine, a casing adapted to inclose said engine, a rotatable piston in said casing, there being a pressure-fluid channel within said casing adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall formed in an adjacent part of said casing, said concave wall facing said peripheral face, barrier-blocks depending from said wall and extending across said channel, said blocks being adapted to divide the length of said channel into equal non-communicating parts, each of said parts having a pressure-fluid inlet and a pressure fluid outlet communicating therewith from without said casing, and a plurality of ro tatable pressure-surface members peripherally borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, and mechanism adapted to rotate said pressure members! at. In a rotary engine, a casing adapted to inclose said engine, a rotatable piston in said casing, there being a pressure-fluid channel within said casing adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave Wall opposite said peripheral face, barrier-blocks borne by said wall, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel. across its length into equal noncommunicating parts, means borne by said blocks adapted yieldingly to press a face of each block against an adjacent portion of said peripheral face, each of said channelparts having a pressure-fluid inlet and a 'n-essure-fluid outlet communicating therewith from without said casing, and a plurality of rotatable pressure-surface members 'ieriplierally borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, and mechanism adapted to rotate said pressure members.

5. In a rotary engine, a casing adapted to inclose said engine, a pair of opposite bearings in said casing, a driving shaft rotatably supported in said bearings, a rotatable piston secured to said shaft within said cas ing, there being a pressure-fluid channel within said casing adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall opposite said peripheral face, barrier blocks yieldingly supported across said channel between said wall and said peripheral. face, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel across its length into equal non-communicating parts, each of said channel-parts having a pressure-fluid inlet and a pressure-fluid outlet communicating with the outside through said casing, and a plurality of rotatable pressure-surface members peripherally borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, and mechanism adapted to rotate said pressure members.

6. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being a pressurefluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall opposite said peripheral face and having inlet and outlet communications with the outside through said casing, a plurality of rotatable propeller-blades borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, said blades having pressure-surfaces adapted to be protruded into and withdrawn from said channel, and mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

7. In a rotary engine, a casing inclosing the engine, said casing being adapted to form the cylinder of said engine, a rotatable piston in said cylinder, there being an annular pressure channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall in the form of a segment of a circle in cross-sectional view, said Wall being adapted to form an arch over adjacent p0r tions of said peripheral face to define said channel, said channel having inlet and exhaust communication for pressure-fluid, a plurality of rotatable propeller-blades peripherally borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, each blade being rotatably supported in a radial pit formed in the peripheral face of said piston, each pit having its mouth at said peripheral face, each of said blades having a pressure-surface adapted to be protruded into and withdrawn from said channel as said blade is rotated, and mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

8. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressureflnid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall arched over said face and having inlet and outlet communications for pressure fiuid, a plurality of rotatable pro pellerblades peripherally borne by said piston, said blades being adapted to rotate in radial planes of said piston, each blade being rotatably mounted. in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade having a pressure surface adapted to be protruded into and withdrawn from said channel as said blade is rotated, and mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

9. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall arched over said face to form said channel, said channel having, also, inlet and exhaust ports for pressure-fluid, a plurality of rotatable propeller-blades peripherally borne by said piston, said blades being adapted to rotate radially the piston, each blade being rotatably mounted in a cor responding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being in the shape of a mutilated disk and being adapted during each of its revolutions to be withdrawn for an interval entirely within its pit and to present at other different intervals a pressure-surface partly and wholly, respectively, transversely obstructing said channel, and mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

10. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave wall arched over said face to form said channel, barrier-blocks borne by said wall and adapted to extend across said channel to said peripheral face, said blocks being adapted to divide the length of said channel into equal non-communicating parts, each channel-part having a pressure-fluid inlet and exhaust port, a plurality of rotatable propeller-blades peripherally borne by said piston, said blades being adapted to rotate radially the piston, each blade being rotatably mounted in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being a mutilated disk and being adapted during rotation to protrude a pressure-surface into said channel partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and said blade being adapted to be entirely Withdrawn into its pit during the interval While passing each of said barrierblocks, and mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

11. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave Wall arched over said face to form said channel, barrier-blocks borne by said Wall and adapted to extend across said chan nel to said periphera l face, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel into equal non-communicating parts, each channel-part having a pressure-fluid inlet and exhaust port, a plurality of rotatable propellerblades peripherally borne by said piston, said blades being adapted to rotate radially the piston, each blade being rotatably mounted in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being a mutilated disk, the mutilation being formed by cutting avvay across its thickness, a portion of a disk on tivo equally diverging lines from a pointon a radius between the center and circumference, said lines sloping toward the center to the circumference, each blade being adapted during rotation to protrude a pressure-surface into said channel, partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and each. said blade being adapted, also, during rotation to be entirely Withdrawn into its pit during the interval While passing each of said barrier-blocks, and mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

12. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave Wall arched over said face to form said channel, barrier-blocks borne by said Wall and adapted to extend across said channel to block same transverse its length, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel into equal non-communicating parts, each channel-part having a pressurefluid inlet and exhaust port through said casing, a plurality of rotatable propellerblades peripherally borne by said piston, each blade being adapted to rotate radially the piston and being mounted in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being a mutilated disk, the unitilation being an equilateral angular cnt transverse the thickness of a disk, the apex of the equilateral angle of the cut being located on a radius between the center and circlnnference, an enlarged portion peripherally borne by the circular-segment portion of each ll'lll tilated disk, the peripheral face of said en larged portion having a groove, a packingmember borne in said groove and adapted to form a leak-tight joint with said concave channel-Wall, each blade being adapted during rotation to protrude a pressure-s1lrface into said channel, partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and each said blade being adapted, also, during rotation to be entirely Withdrawn into its pit during the interval While passing each of said barrier-blocks, and mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

13. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressurefluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave Wall arched over said face to form said channel, barrier-blocks borne by said Wall and adapted to extend across said channel to block same transverse its length, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel into equal non-communicating parts, each channel-part having a pressure-fluid inlet and exhaust port through said casing, a plurality of rotatable propeller-blades peripherally borne by said piston and being mounted in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being a. mutilated disk and being adapted during each rotation to protrude a pressure-surface into said channel, partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and, each said blade being adapted, also, during rotation to be entirely Withdrawn into its pit during the interval when passing each of said barrierblocks, and geared mechanism driven by the rotation of said piston adapted to rotate said blades.

14. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an a nunlar pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave Wall arched over said face to form said channel, barrier-blocks borne by said Wall and adapted to extend across said channel to block same transverse its length, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel into equal non-communicating parts, each channel-part having a pressurefluid inlet and exhaust port through saideral face of said piston, each blade being a mutilated disk and being adapted during each rotation to protrude a pressure-surface into said channel, partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and, each said blade being adapted, also, during rotation to be entirely Withdrawn into its pit during the interval When passing each of said barrier-blocks, a stationary circular rack secured to an inner Wall of said casing adjacent to an end of said piston, a plurality of pinions rotatably mounted in said end of said piston, said pinions being adapted to engage said rack and travel around same on their rotary mountings as said piston rotates, and geared means adapted operatively to connect one of each of said pinions With one of said blades and being adapted to rotate said blade.

15. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave Wall arched over said face to form said channel, barrier-blocks borne by said Wall and adapted to extend across said channel to block same transverse its length, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel into equal non-communicating parts, each channel-part having a pressurefluid inlet and exhaust port through said casing, a plurality of rotatable propellerblades peripherally borne by said piston and being mounted in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being a mutilated disk and being adapted during each rotation to protrude a pressure-surface into said channel, partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and, each said blade being adapted, also, during rotation to be entirely Withdrawn into its pit during the interval When passing each of said barrierblocks, a stationary circular rack secured to an inner Wall of said casing adjacent one end of said piston, the center of the circumference of said rack being opposite the center of the circumference of said piston, a plurality of pinions rotatably mounted in said end of said piston radially said piston and equally distant the center of the circumference of said piston, said pinions being adapted to engage said rack and travel around same on their rotary mountings as said piston is rotated, and geared means adapted operatively to connect one of each of said pinions With one of said blades and being adapted to rotate said blade.

16. In a rotary engine inclosed in a casing, a rotatable piston, there being an annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel having a concave Wall arched over said face to form said channel, barrier-blocks borne by said Wall and adapted to extend across said channel to block same transverse its length, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel into equal noncommunicating parts, each channel-part having a pressurefluid inlet and exhaust port through said casing, a plurality of rotatable propellerblades peripherally borne by said piston and being mounted in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being a mutilated disk and being adapted during each rotation to protrude a pressure-surface into said channel, partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and, each said blade being adapted, also, during rotation to be entirely withdrawn into its pit during the interval When passing each of said barrier-blocks, a pair of opposite bearings borne by opposite Walls of each of said pits, a shaft rotatably supported in each pair of said bearings, each shaft being adapted to form the rotary mounting for a corresponding end of said blades, one end of each shaft being adapted to protrude through its adjacent bearing into one of a plurality of cavities in said piston, each of said cavities having an open mouth at one end of said piston and having a bearing bored through the other end of said piston, a beveled gear rigidly mounted on each of said protruding shaft-ends, an arbor rotatably mounted in each of said last-named bearings, one end of each of said arbors protruding into one of said cavities and bearing a rigidly mounted beveled gear, each gear being adapted operatively to engage an adjacent one of said firstaiamed beveled gears, the other end of each of said arbors being adapted to protrude beyond said other end of said piston and bearing a rigidly mounted pinion, and a stationary circular rack secured to an inner Wall of said casing adjacent said other end of said piston, said pinions being adapted to engage and travel around said rack as said piston is rotated and being adapted, also, to communicate rotary motion to said blades through said arbors, beveled gears, and shafts.

17. In a rotary engine, a casing adapted to inclose said engine, said casing comprising an annular member and a pair of end-plates secured to the opposite circular ends of said member adapted to cover the circular end openings, a pair of opposite hearings in said plates, a driving-shaft rotatably supported in said bearings, a cylindrical piston centrally borne by a portion of said shaft Within said'casing and rigidly secured to said portion of said shaft, an annularrconcave Wall borne by the inner Wall of said annular member, said concave \vall being adapted to form an arched annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent. the peripheral face of said piston, barrierblocks borne by said Wall and adapted to extend transversely across said channel, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel along its length into equal noncommunieating parts, each channel-part having a pressure-fluid inlet and a pressur fluid exhaust port, a plurality of rotatable propeller-blades peripherally borne by and adapted to rotate in radial planes in said piston, each blade having a pressure surface adapted to be protruded into and Withdrawn from said channel as said blade is rotated, and geared mechanism operatively adapted to rotate said blades as said piston is rotated.

18. In a rotary engine, a casing adapted to inclose said engine, said casing comprising an annular member and a pair of end plates secured to the opposite circular ends of said member adapted to cover the circular end openings, a pair of opposite bearings in said plate, a driving shaft rotatably supported in said bearings, a cylindrical piston centrally borne by a portion of said shaft with in said casing and rigidly secured to said portion of said shaft, an annular concave Wall borne by the inner Wall of said annular member, said concave Wall being adapted to form an arched annular pressure-fluid chan nel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, barrier-blocks borne by said Wall and adapted to eXtend transverse said channel, said blocks being adapted to divide said channel along its length into equal non-communicating parts, each channel-part having a pressure-fluid inlet and a pressure-fluid eX- haust port, means mutuallyborne by said concave Wall and each of said blocks adapted yieldingly to press a face of each block against an adjacent portion of said peripheral face of said piston, a plurality of ro-' tatable propeller-blades peripherally borne by said piston, each blade being adapted to rotate radially the piston and being mounted in a corresponding one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston, each blade being a mutilated disk, the mutilation being an equilateral angular cut transverse the thickness of a disk, the apeX of the equilateral angle of the out being located on a radius between the center and the circumference, each blade being adapted during each rotation to protrude a pressure-surface into said channel, partly obstructing same transverse its length during certain intervals and entirely so obstructing same during another interval, and, each blade being adapted, also, during rotation to be entirely withdrawn into its pit during the interval when passing each of said barrierblocks, a pair of opposite bearings borne by opposite Walls of each of said pits, a shaft rotatably supported in each pair of said bearings, each shaft being adapted to form the rotary mounting for a corresponding one of said blades, one end of each shaft being adapted to protrude through its adjacent bearing into one of a plurality of pockets borne by an end of said piston, each of said. pockets having an open mouth at said piston end, a bottom, and closed sides, said bottom having a bearing opening through said bottom and through the other end of said piston, a beveled gear rigidly mounted on each of said protruding shaft-ends, an arbor rotatably mounted in each of said bearings in the bottom of said pocket, one end of each arbor protruding into a corresponding one of said pockets and bearing rigidly a rigidly mounted beveled gear, each gear being adapted operatively to engage an adjacent one of said first-named beveled gears, the other end of each arbor being adapted to protrude beyond said other end of said piston and bearing a rigidly mounted pinion, a stationary circular rack secured to the inner Wall of one of said end-plates adjacent said other end of said piston, said pinions being adapted to engage and travel around said rack as said piston is rotated and being adapted, also, to communicate rotary motion to said blades through said arbors, beveled gears, and shafts.

19. In a rotary engine, the combination With a cylinder and a driving-shaft rotatably supported in a pair of bearings in said cylinder, of a piston centrally rigidly borne by a portion of said shaft Within said cylinder, said piston being adapted to rotate with said shaft, an arched inner wall borne by said cylinder, said Wall being adapted to form an annular pressure-fluid channel adjacent the peripheral face of said piston, said channel lnwing ports adapted to admit and discharge said pressure-fluid, a plurality of propeller-blades borne by said piston, each blade being rotatablysupported in one of a plurality of radial pits sunk in the peripheral face of said piston and having a pressure-surface adapted to be protruded into and Withdrawn from said channel as said blade is rotated, a stationary circular rack secured to the inner wall of said cylinder adjacent an end of said piston, a plurality of pinions rotatably borne by said adjacent end and geared means operatively associated of said piston, said pinions being adapted to In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my travel around said rack in engagement theresignature in the presence of two Witnesses. With as said cylinder is rotated said'pinions -1 themselves meanwhile rotating hn their axes, ARTHUR Witnesses:

NANCY G. THOMAS,

With each pinion and each blade adapted to WALTER 0. Guns.

communicate rotary motion to each blade.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

